Locking arrangement for pluggable optical subassembly modules

Abstract

The present disclosure is generally directed to an optical transceiver module with a locking arrangement that allows the optical transceiver module to be releasably coupled into an associated receptacle of an optical transceiver cage. The locking arrangement includes a handle member with teeth configured to engage notches of an actuating member to allow rotational movement of the handle to be translated into linear movement by the actuating member. The linear movement of the actuating member may be independent of the housing of the optical transceiver module, and as the handle is transitioned from a locked position to a release position such movement of the actuating member can urge release of the locking members of the optical transceiver cage by way of the tab portions of the actuating member. A user may then supply a force, e.g., a pulling force, to remove the unlocked subassembly module from the receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical transceiver module comprising:
 a pluggable housing defining a cavity to receive an optical component, the pluggable housing configured to removably couple into a receptacle of an optical transceiver cage; and 
 a locking arrangement coupled to the pluggable housing to allow the pluggable housing to releasably lock within the receptacle, the locking arrangement including:
 a handle member to rotate about a first rotational axis to transition between a locked position and a release position, the handle member having at least a first protrusion, the first protrusion having at least first and second teeth extending therefrom; and 
 an actuating member coupled to the handle member and having at least first and second notches, the actuating member to translate rotational movement of the handle member about the first rotational axis to linear movement based on the first and second teeth sequentially engaging with the first and second notches, respectively, to urge the actuating member along a direction D as the handle member rotates, and wherein the actuating member displaces a lock member of the receptacle when the handle member transitions to the release position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating member includes first and second arm portions that extend substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the pluggable housing, and wherein the first arm defines the first and second notches. 
     
     
       3. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the pluggable housing defines a recessed region to receive at least a portion of the actuating member, the recessed region providing a guide for the linear movement of the actuating member. 
     
     
       4. The optical transceiver module of  claim 3 , wherein the actuating member includes a portion that extends from the recessed region to displace a lock member of the receptacle when the handle member transitions to the release position. 
     
     
       5. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the actuating member further includes at least one retaining member that extends towards the pluggable housing, and wherein the pluggable housing includes a spring member disposed within a cavity, the spring member including one end to supply a force against a sidewall defining the cavity and a second end to supply a force to a portion of the at least one retaining member that extends towards the pluggable housing and into the cavity to maintain the locking arrangement in a locked position. 
     
     
       6. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the optical component includes at least one laser diode and/or photodiode. 
     
     
       7. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the optical transceiver module is implemented as a quad small form-factor pluggable transceiver module capable of transmitting and receiving four different channel wavelengths. 
     
     
       8. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second teeth sequentially engage the first and second notches, respectively, based in part on the first and second notches being disposed at a distance from each other along the actuating member such that, as the handle member rotates from the locked position to the release position, the first tooth engages the first notch to displace the actuating member a predetermined distance along direction D, the predetermined distance allowing for the second tooth to engage the second notch and further displace the actuating member along direction D as the handle member continues to rotate towards the release position. 
     
     
       9. The optical transceiver module of  claim 1 , wherein the first tooth engages with the first notch when the handle is in the locked position, and wherein the second tooth engages the second notch when the handle rotates about 45 degrees from the locked position. 
     
     
       10. An optical transceiver system comprising:
 a cage defining at least a first receptacle to receive an optical transceiver module, the cage including a lock member to releasably couple the housing into the first receptacle; and 
 an optical transceiver module to releasably couple into the first receptacle, the optical transceiver module comprising:
 a housing defining a cavity to receive an optical component; 
 a locking arrangement coupled to the housing, the locking arrangement including a handle member and an actuating member coupled to the handle, the handle member having at least a first protrusion having at least first and second teeth extending therefrom, and the actuating member including first and second notches to engage the first and second teeth, respectively; and 
 wherein the handle member is configured to rotate to cause the locking arrangement to transition between a lock position and a release position based on the first and second teeth sequentially engaging with the first and second notches, respectively, to urge the actuating member along a direction D as the handle member rotates, the release position to cause the lock member to allow the housing to decouple from the receptacle. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , the locking arrangement further comprising an actuating member, the actuating member configured to displace the locking member when the handle member transitions to the release position. 
     
     
       12. The optical transceiver module of  claim 11 , wherein the housing defines a recessed region to receive at least a portion of the actuating member and provide a guide for linear movement of the actuating member. 
     
     
       13. The optical transceiver module of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating member includes a retaining member that extends towards the housing, and wherein the housing includes a spring member to apply a force to a portion of the retaining member that extends towards the housing to urge the actuating member in a rearward position and maintain the handle member in the locked position. 
     
     
       14. The optical transceiver module of  claim 10 , wherein the optical transceiver module is implemented as a quad small form-factor pluggable transceiver module capable of transmitting and receiving four different channel wavelengths. 
     
     
       15. A method for releasably locking an optical transceiver module into an associated receptacle, the method comprising:
 rotating a handle member of an optical transceiver module from to a first position to cause a first tooth provided by the handle member to engage an associated first notch of an actuating member to displace the actuating member along a linear direction D; 
 subsequent to rotating the handle member from the first position, rotating the handle member of the optical transceiver module to a second position, the second position to cause a second tooth provided by the handle member to engage a second notch of the actuating member, the second notch being different that the first notch, to displace the actuating member along the linear direction D to a release position; and 
 disengaging a locking member in response to the actuating member being in the release position, wherein disengaging the locking member allows for the optical transceiver module to be removed by a pulling force along the linear direction D. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the handle member of the optical transceiver module to the second position includes rotating the handle member by 90±20 degrees from the first position. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein rotating the handle member from the first position further comprises disengaging the first tooth from the first notch.